Which of the following reactions is an example of nuclear fusion?

Source: JAMB · 2024

Which of the following reactions is an example of nuclear fusion?

  1. Uranium-235 splitting into Barium and Krypton
  2. Hydrogen nuclei combining to form Helium ✓
  3. Thorium decaying into Radium
  4. Carbon-14 undergoing beta decay
Explanation

Nuclear fusion is when light nuclei join to make a heavier one and release energy. Hydrogen nuclei combining to form helium is fusion. It is how the Sun makes its energy.

Uranium-235 splitting into barium and krypton is fission, the splitting of a heavy nucleus. Thorium decaying to radium is alpha decay. Carbon-14 beta decay is a nucleus changing a neutron to a proton. None of these join nuclei together.

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